LeBron James was returning to Cleveland, Sports Illustrated had the exclusive, and they told the world in an understated way that James wanted most of all – a striking difference from the 2010 Decision broadcast on ESPN.

"The story was going to spread like a wildfire on its own," SI's managing editor Chris Stone said. "It didn't need us to pretty it up or hype it up ahead of time. We were always mindful of the fact that the reason they came to Lee in the first place is their belief that he wouldn't turn it into a circus."

Stone credits the story entirely to Jenkins, who not only pitched the idea for an account of James' next move in the NBA, but crafted and executed the first-person essay through a conversation with the four-time MVP Thursday evening.

"I almost feel guilty talking about this because all the credit goes to Lee Jenkins," Stone said. "He's the one who wanted to do this story for a long time, he made it happen. It's a remarkable coup for him."

It germinated from an idea to write about what James would do during this monumental off-season. Conversations with people around James eventually led to a proposition a week ago: Jenkins could be the one to write James' decision.

Jenkins was so concerned the story might fall through, however, that he only wrote an email to Stone saying that he wanted to do a first-person story.

Still, Jenkins remained cautious until he flew to Las Vegas on Wednesday, met with James on Thursday, and knew the decision of the newest Cavalier. No one at SI knew James' choice until 10:30 a.m. Friday, however, when Jenkins' story landed in the office.

For almost two hours, only about eight people knew of James' decision. That, Stone conceded, was the only promise SI made in agreeing to write James' story.

"We certainly didn't want a leak," Stone said. "One condition was placed on us, and that was our internal discretion."

Jenkins earned the right to tell the story in part because of the trust he engenders in his sources, Stone said.

"He takes the time to actually talk to people and engage them in ways that make them comfortable," Stone said. "They learn to trust him. I think curiosity goes a long way. I'm always struck by the material he gets, and the only way you can get that is by asking the right questions and probing the corners of people's lives and making them feel comfortable. As a writer, I didn't have that gift. I'm somewhat in awe that people not only trust him, but tell him intimate details of their lives."

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